1. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #173941 by Daniel Palmer on May 1, 2008 at 11:36 am

Seeker_of_Truth:

This might also be called a preconception of biblical proportion.

I'll confess to being a bit of a lurker, I've been following the 'progression' of this spat with Seeker_of_Truth with vicarious pleasure.

I just can't be bothered with trying to convince a person who wilfully misinterprets a vast body of evidence, of which he has a very limited understanding, of its veracity. Ironically, his misinterpretation probably stems from the quote above; biblical preconceptions are indeed unmatched in their proportions.

(Edit) I also wanted to point out that I encourage someone wanting to understand a body of evidence of which he is ignorant; just when said person appears to be nit-picking without justification (other than Sky daddies)it seems a little trivial.(/Edit)

2. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163087 by Daniel Palmer on April 18, 2008 at 1:28 am

From the article:

Most [mutations] make no difference to our bodies, because most of our DNA is useless junk anyway.

It's a little ironic that this article, in purporting to dispel misconceptions about evolution, furthers another.

Even if 'junk' DNA has no apparent morphological, phenotypic effect, that is not to say that it serves no purpose.

Grrr.

3. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158170 by Daniel Palmer on April 10, 2008 at 7:00 am

However, I did hear that his time-travelling vehicle-of-choice was a white Fiat Uno, and he had a penchant for Parisian underpasses...

Ooo too soon still... isn't 22.3 years before something tragic becomes funny?

4. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158009 by Daniel Palmer on April 10, 2008 at 1:09 am

Anyway - at least ONE group appears impressed by the film

Wow... prime example of doublethink!

Intellectual dishonesty is the fugliest type of self-delusion, this reviewer seems to revel in it.

5. Fleabytes

Comment #146553 by Daniel Palmer on March 19, 2008 at 7:30 am

Dr Benway-

My graphic design skills aren't exactly great, but it sounds like a laugh - maybe we can affirm the gullibility of the attendees!

Two people? That sounds like you've been 'volunteered', Quetz.

6. Fleabytes

Comment #146518 by Daniel Palmer on March 19, 2008 at 6:54 am

to my tranquil home town.

BTW Quez, you're referring to Bedford here? I lived there for a few years, it's not exactly a Surrey hamlet from a Constable painting!

I remember some ranting loony hitting me in the face with her bible in that square out the back of the Bus station - she just been chanting 'repent , repent' at the top of her voice, I guess I was in her way. Does she still preach to the citizens of your quaint idyll?

7. Fleabytes

Comment #146472 by Daniel Palmer on March 19, 2008 at 5:53 am

Quetz-

I'll be going to see Ham in your stead (unless you change your mind and fancy a night pulling out your own hair). No doubt it'll be whispering into a gale, but KH shouldn't be able to present his ridiculous views without at least one or two voices of reasoned dissent.

As you're pretty close to me geographically (I'm in Northampton), I thought you might be interested in attending a creation 'science' meeting... I've got in contact with the organiser, and they hold them regularly.

Although, as with Ham, there probably won't be any reasonable debate, after reading the article posted here on the increase in Creationism in the UK and noticing to my horror that Northampton is mentioned as a centre for this increase, that cause of this surge in Non-science bears some investigation. Or at least satisfying my own morbid curiosity.

The Christian movement seems pretty strong here; we have a centre for these neon-orange-torture-device-toting camouflage-jacket-wearing morons here:

http://www.jesus.org.uk/northampton/

As if this isn't enough, we have a branch of this esteemed bastion of empiricism:

http://www.christianscienceflint.org/

Plus a Christian rap group (LMAO, anyone?)in the town centre every Saturday.

So Quetz - whaddyathink? Fancy making a trip to the former home of Charles Bradlaugh?